Author Archives: Jennifer White

Pharrell, Anderson .Paak, Ty Dollar $ign, Rick Rubin, Lil Wayne And More Remember Mac Miller

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“Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life” was a truly spiritual, surreal and fun ride last night in Los Angeles, CA. Many of the artists who loved the late, great Mac Miller came to perform, not to just honor his memory but to support a great charity, The Mac Miller Circles Fund, which is dedicated to youth arts.  
 
Ty Dolla $ign brought out his guitar, started his short set on the stage and ended up in the crowd providing one of the night's highlight. The long haired hit-maker played Mac-collab, “Cinderella.” Standing at the mic, playing the guitar, Dollar $ign serenaded the crowd:

“I been waiting' all night for this moment,” he sang. “I been waiting' all year for this moment./ I been picturing you takin' off your clothes for me./ I been literally curvin' all these hoes for you./ Daddy told you, better bring your ass home./ Cinderella better get your ass home./ Man I swear the parents just don't understand./ You ain't gotta be old to be a man.”
 
“I’m sure all my Mac fans are gonna appreciate this,” he told the crowd. “How many of y’all got that Kids?  
 
Chevy Woods then came out for his part on “Paper Route” from the classic mixtape. 
 
Ty Dolla took to the crowd, literally, afterward. He went into the seats performing “Blasé,” which he told the audience was a Mac favorite. 
 
Earlier in the night, Domo Genesis came out for “Coming Back.” The unabashed MC spit his cutting rhymes on the record.
 
“It's a cold world baby, but I'm a cold n****,” he proclaimed. “Frostbite tryna take a chew of how I slither./ My presence give 'em chills, like an Antarctica winter
And I'm banging Inglewood till I'm getting caught with a splinter./ I'm having artists for dinner./ So many fall apart when I spark it's hard to remember.”
 
“I love my brother,” he told the spectators. “I hate it had to be under these circumstances but I want to celebrate his life.”
 
Action Bronson moseyed onstage extra slowly during his set, smoking. It was a very sobering moment as they let the music to Mac’s “Red Dot Music” play. 
 
“Think I can see a f***ing halo, about to meet my maker,” Miller voice oozed through the speakers. “Brought a double cup of Drano, some soda for the flavor./ Uncontrollable behavior with some psychopathic tendencies./ Lonely as your neighbors with the bitches./ He got special needs./ Word to my denim fiends, I'm Kennedy on ecstasy./My flavor from the nature, need an acre for my recipe.”
 
“I said it must be the drugs that got us thinking crazy shit,” Bronson and the fans sang along on the chorus. “Groupie bitches wild enough to suck a baby's dick./ Cadillacs is getting whipped a hundred eighty fifth./ Just for that sizzle, Gore-Tex in case of drizzle.”
 
Throughout the night, videos played from portions of Mac’s life. They showed time he spent in LA, with building thoughts by Rick Rubin. There was a heartfelt tribute video where many of his friends gave stories and gems from their time with Miller. Pharrell Williams, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Donald Glover, DJ Premier, Joey Badass, A$AP Ferg, and Karl Anthony Towns were among those who paid homage. 
 
Anderson .Paak followed with his own live testimonial, telling how humble his friend was.
 
“Mac Miller never took himself too seriously,” he said. “He was one of the dopest out and not afraid to say ‘you’re dope too; come with me.” Paak then got on the drums and he sang his Miller collaboration.
 
“I can't keep on losing you, over complications” Paak smoothly crooned. “Gone too soon, wait! We was just hangin'./ I can't seem to hold onto, dang
The people that know me best./ The key that I won't forget, too soon./ I can't keep on losing you, you, you, you, you, you./ I can't keep on losing you, you, you, you, you, you.”
 
Wow. Those words resonated so loudly, penetrated so precisely. It still seems surreal that the young hip-hop great is no longer with us. Miller, born Maclcom McCormick, died just a few weeks ago on September 7 from a drug overdose. And while his family, friends and fans are still mourning, this Halloween night was a beautiful homegoing celebration. No sadness, just a celebration and remembrance of all the joy he brought. LiveXLive.com is honored to have been part of this unforgettable event.

Lauren Turns A Real Life Fight Into A Song

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Not to be left behind by Camila Cabello or Normani (who, btw, just dropped TWO tracks with Calvin Harris, check them out here) another former member of Fifth Harmony has released her debut solo track – Lauren Jauregui dropped Expectations on Friday.

I love that all three seem to be going in different directions with their sound – Lauren even has a name for hers, she calls it “smoky quartz angel” and told People Magazine "it’s very soulful-oriented. It’s got different elements of what inspired me growing up. I’m very inspired by ’90s R&B and pop divas, like Beyonce and Pink and Rihanna and Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Whitney, Etta James. Those women who really shaped this energy. There’s just been so many artists who have spoken their truth through their music and given their soul.”

Lauren sat down with Genius to get deep into the lyrics and meaning behind the new song. It comes from a real experience with her boyfriend – she doesn’t say Ty Dolla $ign, but just know it’s about Ty Dolla $ign —  revealing that songwriting is like therapy for her, explaining “a lot of them come from a subconscious place that I haven’t even tapped into yet in my conscious mind.”

Check out her breakdown of Expectations in the video above! And don’t worry, they worked it out.

Normani, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Tom Morello And Lauryn Hill Underscore Criminal Justice Reform Theme At Tidal X

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Stars participating in the charity concert Tidal X 2018 gave very a clear message about the need to reform while also keeping the party lasting all night. Lil Wayne headlined a roster that included fellow legends such as Lauryn Hill, The Lox, Black Thought and Lil Kim, while rising superstars such as Normani and Teyana Taylor also joined the fray. 
 
Normani performed both of her new songs produced by Calvin Harris, “Check List” and “Slow Down,” while Lil Tunechi kept his foot on the pedal with a furious set that changed lanes in and out of Tha Carter V territory and his catalog classics.
 
Weezy lit his starter pistol with “Goin’ In,” then trekked to Swizz Beatz’s “Pistol On My Side” which the former Birdman Jr. steers with words. After “John,” it was a heavy focus on C5 with “Let It Fly,” “Open Safe,” “Dedicate” and “Mona Lisa.” 
 
The iconic MC then encouraged the fans to celebrate life and not take their existence for granted.  He stood still, holding his mic in the stand during “Don’t Cry,” which features fallen hip-hop soldier XXXtentacion. 
 
“Staring into the clouds./ Am I rising or they comin’ down?” he rapped.
“I see death around the corner./ And the U-turn sign's lookin' like a smile./
What do I do now? Who gon' find me, how?/ Nowhere to turn but around and round./ Just another n*** that done lost his head./ No, a f***ing king that forgot his crown.”
 
Sobering tone turned to intoxicated bliss with “The Motto” and one of Weezy’s blockbusters “A Milli.” Before “Uproar,” Wayne told everyone that the song was “liked everywhere, loved everywhere but no more than it is here.”
  
When you think about all the horror stories of mass incarceration and police brutality and judicial bias that were told during the night, one important thing to factor is that the victims and the oppressed, no matter how difficult their circumstances, never lost their humanity. Never become the monster. Now whether or not you pray for the oppressors or not, is a discussion for another time, but Lauryn Hill was very clear about the purpose of the night. 
 
“We’re here for a very important reason,” she said. “Broken systems… We have the power to change them, we have the power to do something about it… Please support the initiatives connected to this event... Help the people who are out there supporting change.”
 
Aside from her political messages, Hill came to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her timeless and universally lauded LP The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. L Boogie mostly performed the songs with her and her band’s remix versions of the original beats. 
 
“Lost Ones,” “Everything is Everything,” and “X Factor” all came in the set and she even made her own new freestyle song over “Drake’s “Nice For What Beat.” Drizzy as you know, sampled Hill’s “X Factor” for the record. 
 
“I wear a short natural like Lola Felana,” she rapped. “This is ‘X Factor,’ he took the sample./ My shit is classic./Here’s an example./ See how we, nice it up on the riddim…”

Meek Mill enjoyed himself, even telling the audience him and Drake were back to being cool again. A year ago, Meek was in jail like so many of the people today to whom Tidal X is trying to bring awareness and resolution. Meek’s story of having to deal with the system all of his adult life, despite only getting criminal charges when he was a minor, has been a rallying point for not just the hip-hop community but a groundswell of people who have experienced unfair treatment in the criminal system personally, via loved ones or even just by people that they have heard about. 
 
Meek started with his “Dreams and Nightmares” intro then went into “Like a Boss.”

“I wanna do this s**t tonight for all the ones we lost to the system,” The Philadelphia King told the spectators.
 
Meek ran through some his catalog with heartfelt words for his slain friend and Dream Chaser artist Lil Snupe, as well as stories about people want to see him “fall. “He then shifted towards the ladies with his new single “Dangerous” and platinum record “All Eyes on Me.” 
 
“Litty Again” closed it out. 
 
“Every artist came to New York to perform for free tonight,” he divulged to the crowd. “I need you to get out there and vote.”
 
Earlier in the night, legendary guitar player and political activist Tom Morello had poignant words for the Barclays faithful.
 
“Racial injustice isn’t an accident, nor is it ordained by God,” he testified. “Racial injustice is man-made. If it created by human beings, it can be destroyed by human beings. Police brutality stops when we stop it.”
 
The Lox, who unwrapped a gaggle of their street gems, had the harshest words of the night for this country’s Commander In Chief yelling “F**k Trump” and “F**k 45” right before and during “F**k You.”
 
“This is for Criminal Justice reform,” Styles P exclaimed. “We are all one.” 
 
Lil Kim joined her long time collaborators for the classic “All About The Benjamins.” 
 
Fat Joe and Black Thought also made for an inspired tandem with Thought rapping Big Pun’s rhymes on “Twinz” with Joe. The Roots’ frontman also rifled off a flurry of freetyles as well as his powerful and timely Rest In Power.” 
 
“In America, one tradition that lasts./Is black blood woven into the fibers o' the flag,” he lamented in rhyme. “Not addressing the problems of the past
To nowhere fast, but following the path./So called ‘leaders’ on hire for the Klan…”I feel like in fatherhood we are connected./ Too long before the shooter was arrested./ So wrong, worldwide, we've been affected
To them it's real, sins of the father remembered still./ For every Trayvon Martin, there was an Emmett Till.”

Director and Producer Ava Duvernay brought out former Olympian Tommie Smith, who 50 years ago stood in solidarity with Black fists raised with fellow American Jean Carlos. Duvernay reflected on how their powerful and historic actions are appreciated today, but back then the two were treated as “Social pariahs” upon returning to America for their act of resistance.
 
“He is the best of us” she described. Smith came out wearing his Olympic number 307.
 
“Reform, reform. All of my people how you feeling tonight? I was there. This was me,” he said. “I love all of you. Reformation is what we have to do.”
 
He also called for “Togetherness” and “Equality.”
 
“We cannot do without it,” he said.

Nick Jonas, Anderson .Paak Turn Barclays Into A Party Last Night

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“We live in a nation with a criminal justice system that is like a cancer on the souls of our country” said Senator Cory Booker speaking to the crowd at the Barclays Center last night for the fourth annual Tidal X show. Booker noted that America’s motto is “land of the free,” but one out every for incarcerated people in the world are here in the United States. He also pointed out that the U.S. has shockingly high rates of women in prison as well as “the vulnerable,” poor and drug addicted. Booker declared that you are treated better in the judicial system if you are rich and guilty than poor and innocent, admonishing the U.S. legal system for “the perpetuation of racial divide, overwhelmingly locking up Black and Brown people.” A sobering statistic was provided, stating that African Americans are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested than someone who is white. The politician told the crowd that there are more Black people in the United States under criminal supervision today than there were slaves in 1850. 
 
CNN Van Jones followed shortly after with equally potent and eye opening words.

Jones told the Brooklyn spectators he was proud to be in the building but was also very “tired.”
 
“Too much violence, too many prisons,” he lamented. “I’m tired of going to funerals with young people in the caskets and gray haired people in the pews.” Jones added he was also tired of going to prisons and seeing geniuses and artists locked up “for stuff that rich folks do every day…” Jones later admonished the U.S. judicial system for having “women trying to give birth, shackled and beaten like animals.”
 
He then promised change.
 
“We are going to bring the horror of mass incarceration to an end,” the journalist declared. “We are done with it. Thank you Roc Nation and Tidal for standing up to these people.”
 
Jones divulged that Roc Nation and Tidal have raised over ten million dollars for criminal justice reform prior to tonight and all of the proceeds from the charity concert are going towards four organizations; Jones’ own Cut 50, Equal justice, The Innocent Project and Reform. 
 
The heavy mood changed back to festive when Anderson .Paak, backed by the musical ensemble Free Nationals, came out for his single “Bubblin’.” After reaching back for his monster hit “Come Down,” the acclaimed Grammys winner brought out Too $hort for “Blow The Whistle.”
 
Nick Jonas kept the party going with “Right Now” and then preached reaching the “Levels” of his girl’s love. “I know we can get higher, there’s levels to your love” he belted out. Jonas then slowed the tempo, standing center stage on the mic in a stand on “Close.” 
 
“Cause if I want you, then I want you babe,” he explained. “Ain’t going backwards, won’t ask for space. Cause space was just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get to.”
 
Jonas’ ended on a high note with his finale “Jealous.”

Tidal X: A Night for Criminal Justice Reform, Teyana Taylor, Patrick Droney, S.I.R. And More

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The time for just looking and not acting is long gone. At a time where our country is reevaluating itself and processing before the upcoming midterm elections, music streamer Tidal unveiled their fourth annual Tidal X show at the Barclays last night, with a heavy emphasis on social justice. Lil Wayne and Lauryn Hill headlined the benefit concert with hip-hop’s poster child for social justice, Meek Mill also appearing on the marquee. Tidal is working in conjunction with different organizations to fight social injustice, such as Cut 50, which is dedicated to cutting crime in in all 50 states, and the Equal Justice Initiative, who fight mass incarceration of minorities. 
 
Teyana Taylor started the night, backed by a squadron of dancers who all wore red, as did she. With a navy blue Yankee fitted hat, the multitalented performer served “Gonna Love Me,” a highlight from her K.T.S.E. (short for Keep That Same Energy).
 
Following with short but soulful sets were Patrick Droney, on guitar, and Cautious Clay. Newcomer Arin Ray sped up the tempo with and lightened the mood with his sing-songy raps on “We Ain’t Homies.”
 
“Y’all ready for a fu--in’ show tonight?” Ray asked the crowd who responded with a hearty “yeah.”
 
Ray, as many remember, was eliminated from the “X Factor” when he was just 15 years in 2011. Since then, the singer has written songs for Chris Brown and most recently toured with H.E.R. 
 
Ray made way for S.I.R., T.D.E. Record’s latest superstar-in-the-making. The crooner started with a stirring serving of “Something New,” then went into “War.”
 
“I'm not backing down,” he sang. “I made it too far to say that the war is over now. Somehow I was neglecting the fact. That your heart is what you're protecting. And that makes it special. Which is why I'm here. Standing on this ledge, trying to make it clear.”
 
Sir’s affection went from a woman to Mary Jane on “D’Evils.” The Inglewood, CA native told the New York crowd that he smokes on that Cali OG and harmonized as the sampled chorus on his song rang throughout Barclays, “One spliff a day, keeps the evil away.”
For more coverage on Tidal X, stay tuned to LiveXLive.

Rami Malek Talks Playing Freddie Mercury

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We’re less than 2 weeks away from the opening of a film fans have been waiting on for nearly a decade. Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic, opens nationally on November 2nd, and the Slacker fam could not be more excited. Since the project was announced in 2010, we’ve been through at least three possible Freddie Mercury incarnations & two different directors.

But it’s finally here! And we know it because Rami Malek is on a press tour. He sat down with Stephen Colbert recently to talk about the stress of having to perform AS Freddie in front of the actual remaining members of the band, and how the spirit of Freddie had a message for him.

See what Rami has to say about playing a Rock Legend and then gear up for the film with Slacker’s Queen: The Count Up station!